Stringed musical instrument



(No Model.)

A. R. LERRO. STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Patented Mar. 15,1898.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANGELO RAFFAELE LERRO, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 600,586, dated March15, 1898.

Application filed September 30, 1897. Serial No. 658,659. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANGELO RAFFAELE LERRO, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia andState of Pennsylvania, have in venteda certain new and usefulImprovement in Stringed Musical Instruments, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to a new and usefulimprovement in stringed musicalinstruments, and has for its object to add to the present strings of anordinary guitar or the like other strings arranged within the body ofthe instrument and capable of being put in action by the plunger-keys,adapted to be controlled by some other portion of the body than thefingersas, for instance, by the knees.

A further object of my invention is to provide an exceedingly simplemechanism for bringing about the mechanical picking of the secondarystrings in substantially the same manner as strings are usually actedupon by the fingers.

lVith these ends in view this invention consists in the details ofconstruction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, and thenspecifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this inventionappertains may understand how to make and use the same, the constructionand operation will now be described in detail, referring to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in whichFigure 1 is a longitudinal section of a guitar having my improvementapplied thereto; Fig. 2, a bottom plan view thereof; Fig. 3, a de tailof the head, showing the arrangement for tuning the primary andsecondary strings; and Fig. 4:, an enlarged detail of run-aroundcam-grooves for bringing about the proper motion of the plunger-keys,said keys being shown in dotted lines.

In carrying out my invention as here embodied, A represents a stringedinstrument, which may be of any suitable type or design, and within thebody thereof are strung the secondary strings B, these strings beingsecured at C and extending forward through an opening in the arm D tothe tuning-keys E, to which they are attached and by means of whichtheir tone may be varied, as is well understood. Beneath the innerportion of the secondary strings islocated a housing F, and through thishousing the plunger-keys G pass and are adapted to slide to and frotherein, coil-springs H serving to hold these keys in theirnormallydowered position, the outer ends thereof having heads I, wherebythey may be easily manipulated. From this it will be seen that when oneof the plunger-keys is forced inward against the action of its springthe inner end thereof will come in contact with one of the secondarystrings B and, if properly manipulated, will give to said string thevibrations necessary to bring about musical sound. Now the manipulationof the inner end of the key, which is provided with an offset .I, isaccomplished by a pin K, carried by each of the plunger-keys projectingwithin the oval-shaped groove L, and this groove has located therein thesprings M and N, each of said springs having one of its ends projectingacross the slot, as indicated at a, so that when the pin is forcedforward it will ride upon its spring until coming to the oppositeportion of the slot and in contact with the projecting end of theopposite spring, when it will force the last-named spring backward andpass into the pocket or recess b. In this movement of the pin within theslot, which, as shown in Fig. 4:, is curved, the inner end of theplunger is caused to describe a circular path, and in so doing firstcomes in contact with the string to be sounded and then, afterdepressing said string to a certain extent, will pass out of linetherewith, permitting the string to spring backward and give forthvibratory sounds. After the plunger-key has accomplished this result therelease thereof will permit the spring H to return to its normalposition. During this last-named motion it, having previously gainedaccess to the opposite side of the spring N, will be carried by the pinK through the curved path in the reverse direction from that which ittraveled upon its inward movement,thus preventing its end from coming incontact with the string upon this reverse movement. By this arrangementit will be seen that each of the plunger-keys may be made to sound itsrespective string, and as this can be brought about without the use ofthe hand it will be seen that in the playing of the instrument in theusual manner a considerable volume of sound may be added thereto by theproper manipulation of the plunger-keys G, since by such manipulationthe secondary strings will give forth their sounds, and these being uponthe inside of the body will be mellowed, although of considerablevolume, and these vibrations when blending with the Vibrations of theprimary strings have been found to produce superior results.

The secondary strings may be varied in tone by suitable treadling, and Ihave here shown a treadle-bridge 0, connected with the lever P, whichlatter is actuated in one di rection by the spring Q, so that when it isde sired this lever maybe operated to the vibrating length of thesecondary strings therein, thus increasing the rapidity of saidvibrations which, as is obvious, will alter the tone of the soundsemanating therefrom.

As before stated, the pitch and tone of the secondary strings may bevaried to suit the particular requirements or fancy of the user of theinstrument by the tuning-keys E, thus permitting the harmonious tuningof both the secondary and primary strings from which most unique andattractive results may be produced.

Of course I do not wish to limit myself to the exact construction hereshown or the application of my improvement to any particular style ofinstrument, as these might be varied to a considerable extent withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and usefulis 1. In combination with the primary strings of a musical instrument,secondary strings arranged substantially parallel therewith and beneathsaid primary strings, plunger-keys for operating the secondary strings,and means for tuning the same, as specified.

2. In combination with the primary strings of a musical instrument,secondary strings arranged therebeneath, keys for tuning said secondarystrings, means for treadling these strings, and plunger-keys foroperating the same, substantially as specified.

3. In combination with a stringed musical instrument, a treadle-bridgearranged above the strings of said instrument, the ends of said bridgeprojecting through the neck, a lever pivoted to the under side of theneck and connected at one end to the ends of the bridge, to draw thesame down against the strings, and a spring arranged between theopposite end of said lever and the neck whereby said bridge is normallyheld away from the strings, as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto atfixed my signature in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

ANGELO RAFFAELE LERRO.

IVitnesses:

D. V. CHAnwIcK, S. S. WrLLrAnsoN.

